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Carl the Croc-Wrestling Bartender and the Magical Pint of Guinness

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If you’re lucky, you’ve found yourself once or twice squeezed into the fun little Rose and Crown pub in Epcot’s UK pavilion. If you’re really lucky, you’ve found yourself there with wonderful friends and a nourishing pint of Guinness. And if you’re REALLY, really lucky, you’ve found yourself a guest of Carl the Bartender — the most dynamic entertainer this side of the pond!

So, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk about Carl the bartender and his famous balancing pint of Guinness.

I wandered into the pub one day, snapping pics as I’m wont to do in Disney World dining establishments, and Carl, who was filling a pint glass with Guinness for a guest, struck up a conversation. I quickly noticed his handiwork on the head of the pint (a lovely and ever-so-appropriate shamrock) and asked the guest if I could take a photo of his beer. He obliged, and I soon found out that Carl happens to be well known for his “Glass-Balanced-On-A-Dime” trick, which of course I needed to see!

Shamrock Design on Top of Guinness

First, Carl did his impressive trick of balancing an empty glass on a dime…

One glass...

…then he decided to top himself by balancing two glasses on dimes…

Two Glass...

…but he then grabbed the nearly full pint of Guinness and proceeded to do the following:

Guinness Glass...

Balanced Glass!

Ta-DA!!! I promise you, folks, this glass is not touching anything but the bar and the dime. That thing is completely balanced on a coin! I have no idea how he did it, and if you do, you’re welcome to share! I was duly impressed and astonished, as I’m sure most people are, by Carl’s magic trick.

But, I have to admit, I was more impressed by Carl himself. Carl is a point of pride for the Rose and Crown Pub. He’s been there for decades, and his employment has resulted in many, many “regulars” at the pub. But even if you aren’t one of his “regulars,” he’ll never treat you any differently than he does them. It seems to me that Carl pretty much considers everyone he meets to be a part of his tight-knit circle of friends…which is an amazing trait to have, and especially useful for a cast member at a place as transitional as Walt Disney World. Those of us who only get to visit once a year, or even less, love to be made to feel “at home” in our very favorite place, and Carl is a true expert at doing that.

This is surely part of why he was inducted into the tiny group of cast members who have received the coveted “Partners in Excellence Award,” an honor for which less than 2% of Disney cast members are nominated and even fewer actually win. This isn’t just any award; awardees are nominated by their colleagues and undergo a long review process. Only the most deserving get the prize — a Partners in Excellence pin depicting the Walt and Mickey statue, “Partners,” to wear on their cast member badges — and the knowledge that their colleagues have voted to recognize their exceptional work.

Carl's Partners in Excellence Award Pin

After the magic trick, we soon started chatting about Carl’s tenure at Disney, and he quickly pulled out a packet of photos from behind the bar. Carl and I started walking down memory lane, which, for him, included both alligator wrestling and decades working for Disney, where he’s no doubt delighted hundreds of thousands of guests just as he did me.

One of Carl's First Jobs in Florida

Carl's Early Days at Rose and Crown...He's the One in the Middle

Can you believe that Crocodile Dundee shot?!? Anyway, it was truly my pleasure to meet and speak with Carl, and if you find yourself in the pub sometime soon, I hope you’ll take the chance to shake his hand and thank him for being the embodiment of the “Disney Difference.” He, and other CMs like him, are the reason you and I keep spending our hard-earned cash to go back to “this happy place.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!

Carl, I hope you get to read this, and that a copy of this little post goes into your magical file of memories. Don’t worry about printing it; I’ll bring you one the next time I’m in town. Also, I’m really sorry if a bunch of people start to come into the pub and ask to see your alligator wrestling photo. It’s just cool, that’s all.

Gerard — Thanks for your comment. Carl didn’t mention a trip to Dublin (and I wasn’t in-the-know enough to ask), but I wouldn’t be surprised! The Shamrock on that pour is better than any I’ve seen before! I’ll ask the next time I see him. Thank you for the interesting info!

Since we’re on the topic of R&C’s beer…. i’ve read in a couple of places, including a Frommer’s guide, that the pub had a “beer warmer” to bring the ice cold beer down to a “real” British beer temp. While in Epcot a few months ago, we tried to order one and were laughed at (literally, rudely), and then ridiculed by all of the staff behind the counter.

Anybody else heard of the “beer warmer” or understand why there are some mixed information regarding it? If you laugh at me, I will boycott you.

Kelsey — No laughing here! I have no idea about a beer-warmer! I can’t see why they’d pay to refrigerate the beer and then warm it up unless beer has to be refrigerated? Hoping for some smart beer-lovers out there to come give us the scoop. Thanks for the FYI that Carl wasn’t one of the bartenders; I imagine he’d keep things under better control!

Yes, Carl is truly a treasure…my husband and I met him years ago during one of our “pub crawls” at Disney. He quickly became a close friend of ours and our annual visits together are always filled with great stories and laughs! So glad that others have recognized him with such high accolades! Great article!

Just wanted to let you know that Carl got a copy of this and has been showing it to guests non stop! He loves this article and loves that he is an internet celeb! I am a local regular and Carl is the reason I go to the Rose and Crown Pub. Way to go Carl!

Thanks AJ for the blog i was told about it by some of the guests that visit
I have had quite a few guest tell me that they read about the blog and wanted to meet me in person and most of them want to get a photo with me and see the guinness glass trick
I just wanted to say thanks to you and all that read it. best withes to all.
Carl the Bartender Rose & Crown Epcot

Ohmigosh! I need to make it a point to meet Carl on my trip in December! My father-in-law would love to chat him up (as would I)!! Plus, FIL hasn’t been to R&C ever – what a treat!! Thanks for the hint…I always learn something new from DFB!

We have been 25 times in the last 5 years and carl has taken care of us all but one time. had amazing conversation and great times at the rose and crown. epcot is where we hang out and come all the way from maine to enjoy this place. We love carl and our crew of friends all know him also. Thanks carl.

What can we say…..the best bartender we have ever met. It is always the high point of our vacation to visit Carl at the R&C. We were honored this year by Carl adding us to his book. That is a real privilege. Thank you for all the great times in the past present and future. Cheers mate!!!

Just got back from disney, stopped in to get a pint while my family was shopping in The United Kingdom shopping. Never heard of Carl however had the joy to met and be served by him. I sat for a while just listening to him chat it up with a fellow country man. He served me the Carl blend, does anyone know the two beers he uses I know one is not Guiness it was an ambler beer made the two end taps. He is a cool guy cheers Carl

On vacation in Epcot Florida. My friends and I stopped in the pub. Carl was delightful and such a nice and delightful man. Our group (we were 6) ate, drank and just relaxed in the pub for about an hour. Carl is a gem.

I met Carl the Bartender on my trip to WDW last week. Truly a very nice guy. He balanced a half full pint of Guinness on a dime for me after I told him about this article. He also showed me the pictures of his alligator wrestling days. Can’t wait to stop by the Rose and Crown Pub the next time I take a WDW vacation! He also made the shamrock on my pint of Guinness, of course.